Fellow Democrat:

I'm writing to let you know that I have decided to run for Travis County Democratic Party Chair, and to ask for your help and support.

As you may know, our current chair, Chris Elliott, has announced that he will not be running again. Every Travis County Democrat owes Chris a debt of gratitude for the job he's done. I hope to build on the strong foundation that Chris leaves us, and keep our party -- and our community -- moving in the right direction.

I've had the privilege of working with many of you over the years. I grew up in Austin, and have been an active Democrat my whole life. I blockwalked for Ann Richard's campaign against George W. Bush in 1994 and was disappointed along with the rest of Travis County (and much later, the entire world) when she wasn't reelected. In 1996, I was a field organizer for the Texas Democratic Party, responsible for setting up coordinated campaigns in 84 counties across the state.

Later, I served for two years as Executive Director of the 21st Century Democrats, where I had the responsibility of, among other things, making payroll every month. I was also an organizer in Hidalgo County for the Vote No on Prop 12 campaign to help save Texas courts. In 2004, when Congressman Lloyd Doggett's district was redrawn to extend from Travis County to Hidalgo County, he asked me to help with his campaign. I took a leave from my job as a lawyer and organized for Lloyd in McAllen, and later became his campaign manager in Travis County.

Finally, as many of you know, I also ran against Republican Todd Baxter for State Representative. When Baxter resigned his seat early to become a lobbyist, I did not yet have residency in West Austin (I own a house on East 2nd Street), so I withdrew from that race and threw my strong support and money behind State Representative Donna Howard. I'm proud that Donna is now one of my supporters -- a full list of community leaders who have endorsed me so far is below.

We've come a long way together, but we still have a long way to go. For our county to continue winning elections for Democrats, we need to make sure we work on increasing turnout among our base. I intend to use my extensive fundraising experience to raise additional funds for GOTV, with a particular focus on increasing voter turnout in minority areas of Austin, especially East Austin. I believe we also need to reach out to new, young voters to keep Travis County blue. Finally, I believe we need to organize a coordinated campaign in the fall that includes new and diverse talent, and I'm committed to making that happen. Together, we can increase our margins in Travis County to help win back the Governor's mansion and other statewide offices by 2010.

I'll be on the March 4, 2008 ballot, and I ask you for your vote. While I'm proud of my diverse list of supporters so far, there are still many people in our community with whom I have not yet had the opportunity to visit about this race. I look forward to doing so over the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me directly at browntexas@gmail.com or 773-1236 at any time. Thanks for your consideration, and I look forward to talking with you soon.

Sincerely,
Andy Brown

LIST OF SUPPORTERS:

Don & Sharon Brown The Honorable Wilhelmina Delco The Honorable Ben Barnes The Honorable John Sharp The Honorable Garry Mauro The Honorable Eliot Shapleigh The Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, Mexican-American Legislative Caucus The Honorable Dawnna Dukes The Honorable Mark Strama The Honorable Donna Howard The Honorable Lee Leffingwell The Honorable Mike Martinez The Honorable Ken Wendler The Honorable Ken Oden The Honorable Bruce Todd The Honorable Richard McCain The Honorable Rich Bailey, State Democratic Executive Committee The Honorable Fran Vincent, State Democratic Executive Committee Mike Aaron Efren Aguilar James Aldrete Gary Allmon Pepper Ammann, Founder and Creator, www.austintidbits.com Taylor Andrews Richard Armento Tom & Robbie Ausley Nicole Aviles Erik Azulay Ken Bailey Shannon Bangle Alex Barlow Brad Bauder Carolyn Bautista Heather Beckel-Guntert Margie Becker Skyler Bentsen Stewart Oliver Bernstein Dan Berwick Karsten Beyer Mike Blizzard Hannah Bloch-Wehba Mary Blumberg Cathy Bonner Greg Bontemp Achkhine M. Boroyan Sarah Bown Hugh L. Brady Steve Bruno Jim Bryce Carole Bumpus David Butts Patty Byars Hannah Calvert Sylvia Camarillo-Brittain Marla Camp Ciaran Campbell Larkin Campbell TG Caraway Liz Carpenter Melissa Carranza Michael Casias Gerardo Castillo John Castillo Perla Cavazos Mario Champion, Executive Director, Latinos for Texas Elizabeth Christian Clayton Christopher, Founder & CEO, Sweet Leaf Tea Nick Chu Marcus Cisneros Colin Clark David Cleaves and Jason Nichols George Cofer Rick Cofer Missy Colbert Glen Coleman Joey Colleran Lawrence Collins Cecilia Crossley Matt Curtis Katrina Daniel Ian Davis Mandy Dealey Justin Demerath John Philip Donisi M. Diane Dwight Jeff Eller, President and CEO, Public Strategies, Inc. Luke Ellis Ruth Epstein Quincy Adams Erickson Amy Everhart Jess Faerman Kelly Fero Ken Flippin Shannon Fohn Dick & Jimmie Sue Francis Richard Franklin, President, Black Austin Democrats Carol Fritz Heidi Gibbons Al Giles Sarah Gomez Andres Gonzalez Mary Sue Gonzalez Donetta Goodall Deborah Green Jose Luis Guerra Joi Harden Sharron Hargis Rosalie Harris Elizabeth Hartman Sandie Haverlah Susan Hays Laura Hernandez, Vice-President, University Democrats Jorge Herrera Gina Hinojosa Paul Hobby David Holmes Ora Houston Alex Hunt Shirley Johnson Melissa Jones Marguerite Jones Wendy Kalthoff Casey Kaplan

Graham Keever Tom Kelly Mike Kelly Mark Kendrick Anne Kohler Ramey Ko, President, Capital Area Asian American Democrats Mel Landers Joan Lava Kenneth League Lowell H. Lebermann, Jr. Fred Lewis Colin Leydon Dewayne Lofton Jeff Lomax Susan Longley Sean Loraas Katie MacDonald Amy Magee Louis Malfaro Jessica Mangrum Ruth Marie Michael D. Marin, Vinson & Elkins, LLP Don Martin Trey McAtee Kathryn McCarter Donna Beth McCormick Elliott McFadden Ambassador Stan McLelland Amanda McMurry Robert and Anabel Mendoza Rex Van Middlesworth Spencer Miller-Payne Cile Montgomery Gabby Moreno Randy Moreno Andy Morman Feras Mousilli Elsy Munoz Virginia Murillo Katie Naranjo Deep Nasta Mark Nathan Nancy Neavel Brooke Nicole Bettye Nowlin Gilberto Ocanas Pat O'Connell Chike Okpara Arlene Ortiz Tommy Parsons Kristine, Danny and Stephanie Patrick Dr. Deborah Peel Rolando Pina Janis Pinnelli Joe Pinnelli Scott Pollard Gilbert Prud'homme Rey Pruneda Sona Ramirez Michael Reid Ellen Richards Dorothy Richter Carlos Rivero, Owner, El Chile Restaurant Catherine Robb Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis Carlos Rodriguez Kirk Rudy Moses T. Ruiz Paul S. Ruiz, Clark Thomas & Winters Aaron Saenz Eddie Safady George Salinas Mario Salinas May Schmidt Charles R. Schotz Greta Sellers Megan Shaver Chris Shonk Shanon Sims Priya Sivaraman Clint Smith Jan Soifer Andrew C. Solomon, President, University of Texas Student Government Dennis Speight Steve Spier Jimmy F. Stewart, co-founder of do512.com Sara Strother Erika Swanner Paul & Susan Szaniszlo Frank Taylor Linda Taylor Marilyn Taylor Michael Terrazas, Owner, Starlite Restaurant and Club de Ville Russ Tidwell Amanda Towler Judy Trabulsi, Founder and Executive Vice President, GSD&M Jaime Trevino Ben Trotter, President, University Democrats Stephen Truesdale Matteo Velasquez Emmalee Vernon Jules Vieau Gavin Villareal Larry Warshaw Joe Bill Watkins Sharon Watkins, Owner, Chez Zee Restaurant Tom Weber Wyeth Wiedeman Lynne Whittington Chad Williams Nancy Williams Shannon Williams Warren Wills Jack Wilson Alex Winkelman Eli Winkelman Marc Winkelman John Wise Megan Woodburn Elyse Yates Caryl Yontz Haley Young Peck Young Carlos Zaffirini

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